What possesses a person to move to a remote, desolate and environmentally dangerous locale such as Lunacy, Alaska? One need look no further than the name of the town where Northern Lights is set to gain a hint. Residents of Lunacy even refer to themselves as "Lunatics." In truth, they would live nowhere else.

This novel covers one winter and one spring, with flashbacks to events that occurred 16 years earlier that return to both plague and haunt the people who live there. Frozen rivers, death-defying mountains, avalanches and caves of ice all figure into a tale that only a novelist as talented as Roberts could weave so skillfully that listeners will not want to leave this work before reaching its satisfying conclusion.

Residents of Lunacy take enormous pride in their developing town. It is by their invitation that Baltimore policeman Nate Burke moves to become their first chief of police in the town’s new police department. Town members are torn between their desire for progress and clinging to often negative ideas about accepting "Outsiders" into their midst.

Nate, too, is a torn man. A divorced man with few family ties, Nate signs on for the job in faraway Alaska after losing his best friend and partner in an on-the-job police shoot-out. Nate secretly blames himself for the death of his friend and is haunted by survivor guilt. His one hope is that he can find some semblance of life in Lunacy.

Nate finds much more than a new life. He runs headlong into a mystery which soon turns into uncovering a murder that happened years ago. He also encounters two unforgettable females, one who makes her designs on him known from the moment she lays eyes on him and her daughter, who does exactly the opposite. Both women are fiercely independent, and both will figure into Nate’s future in this ravishingly beautiful dark land of ice with nighttime lights the likes of which he has never before seen.

The best-selling author of more than 200 novels, Nora Roberts lives in rural Maryland, where she crafts books that enthrall readers throughout the globe with their exotic settings, rich characterization and plots that keep readers and listeners guessing right up until the last page is turned.

McDaniel College awarded Roberts an honorary Doctor of Letters degree in 2006.

"Northern Lights" is available in audiobook format and can be downloaded so fans can listen to it while on long automobile trips or in shorter sessions as they go through their daily lives. This digital download provides listeners with over 15 hours of listening enjoyment, thanks in no small part to the wonderful narration provided by Gary Littman.

Lunacy was Nate Burke’s last chance. As a Baltimore cop, he’d watched his partner die on the street—and the guilt still haunts him. With nowhere else to go, he accepts the job as Chief of Police in this tiny, remote Alaskan town. Aside from sorting out a run-in between a couple of motor vehicles and a moose, he finds his first few weeks on the job are relatively quiet. But just as he wonders whether this has been all a big mistake, an unexpected kiss on New Year’s Eve under the brilliant Northern Lights of the Alaska sky lifts his spirit and convinces him to stay just a little longer.

Meg Galloway, born and raised in Lunacy, is used to being alone. She was a young girl when her father disappeared, and she has learned to be independent, flying her small plane, living on the outskirts of town with just her huskies for company. After her New Year’s kiss with the chief of police, she allows herself to give in to passion—while remaining determined to keep things as simple as possible. But there’s something about Nate’s sad eyes that gets under her skin and warms her frozen heart.

And now, things in Lunacy are heating up. Years ago, on one of the majestic mountains shadowing the town, a crime occurred that is unsolved to this day—and Nate suspects that a killer still walks the snowy streets. His investigation will unearth the secrets and suspicions that lurk beneath the placid surface, as well as bring out the big-city survival instincts that made him a cop in the first place. And his discovery will threaten the new life—and the new love—that he has finally found for himself.

" I'm a big fan of any Nora Roberts book, especially her romantic suspense novels. Yes, you have the standard hunky man with the uniquely beautifuly or scrappy heroine in each of them, but what I like about Roberts' books is that she gives them depth. In this outing, Meg, the Alaskan pilot, is smart, resilient and can take care of herself. She's no simpy, weepy female waiting to be rescued. The new police chief is also strong in his own right, though he has a history that he's trying to come to terms with. They mesh nicely together as they try to figure out connections between current murders and one that occurred long ago (Meg's dad). Read this book for several hours of escapist pleasure reading. "

" Found this book in the 4/73CAV Joint Operations Center, FOB Gardez. It was a great way to beat boredom and cold of being snowed in. My favorite NR thus far. "

Amy | 1/2/2014

" Awesomely fun book. Meg and Nate were great characters...and I love how she tied the mystery together. "

Marion | 11/23/2013

" Really fun read. More mystery than romance that really takes you to small town Alaska. "

Dee | 11/21/2013

" It was interesting reading a mystery that took place in Alaska. "

Linda Slates | 10/28/2013

" I read this a while ago, then recently watched the Hallmark Channel movie. I enjoyed both. "

Owleyez | 10/23/2013

" Set in Alaska, I loved the unusual hero. Classic romance, but the setting in a small town with wacky side characters makes this one of my all time favorites. Read many, many times over the years. Not sure if the heroine is beliveable. She does seem to fit with the hero. "

Gina Rodriguez | 10/20/2013

" This was the first book that I have ever read of Nora Roberts and I fell in love with her writing "

Noemia | 9/8/2013

" A very good story from NR. "

Stan189 | 5/27/2013

" Wow this book is the best. the most adventurous book ever "

Dalene | 12/1/2012

" Great romantic / mystery. It was also fun to picture the small city in Alaska, the cold, the dark, the light, the northerns lights. Just fascinating. It reminded me of the old TV series Northern Exposure. Fun!! "

Sara | 11/4/2012

" The setting of this boook in Alaska drew me to it as well as the vulnerability of the male hero instead of the female. It was a good read, but I have definitely read better from Nora Roberts. "

Sandi Sipe | 7/1/2012

" Lot better than I expected it to be. Nora knows how to make a deep freeze in Alaska's winter feel hot. "

Amanda | 6/23/2012

" Mystery was good--kept you guessing and guessing. Liked the setting and the characters. Language is STRONG and there is promiscuity. "

Gail (myJunegirls) | 7/6/2011

" This was a very fun Nora Roberts book. The setting made for a very interesting read- she obvisouly did her research as you really felt like you were in Alaska. Great story that had nice surprises. "

Trina | 5/6/2011

" I enjoyed this story although much of it is extremely predictable. It was as I expected I guess. I started to think that everyone in that small town was sexually loose and that's all they thought about. I enjoyed the murder mystery part of the story. "

Atarah | 4/30/2011

" This book was an amazing read... hence the five stars I have given it. Thank you Nora for being one skilled and talented writer.
"

Lil | 4/16/2011

" this book is so good i loved it so much more than the movie
"

Tatrd | 4/12/2011

" Meg Galloway & Nate BurkeNate's partner was killed and he got depressed so he moved to Lunacy AK. Meg's father disappeared 16 years ago.
"

" This was another auther I have seen around alot and never read. It was decent. It was a murder mystery/romance. I didn't really relate to the woman in the book. I don't think any exist that are like her. I did like the descriptions of living in Alaska. Definately fluff.
"

Angie | 3/1/2011

" Really good mystery with some nice romance. I found the whole search for the killers plotline more interesting than the Meg/Nate relationship. Plus, Alaska was like a supporting character and really enjoyed that.
"

Mirela | 2/16/2011

" An amazing story filled with wonderful characters. I attempted to solve the murder with just the clues that were given out, but at the end I was stunned but it all made sense. I am glad that I stuck through it.
"

Alisha | 2/8/2011

" It was just okay for me. I am not sure why, I didn't really feel like I could connect with the characters.
"

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